Ethanol Blend Fuels Affects on Health and the

Environment

Howard Haines

Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Eugene, Oregon, May 8, 2001

Air Quality Concerns • Pollutants from vehicles and stationary

sources collect to levels that are unhealthy for the general public

• Laws and rules were passed to protect the health of the general public that required oxygenated fuels

Areas with Air Quality Concerns in Oregon

• Portland• Medford• Grants Pass (delisted)• Klamath Falls (delisted)

MTBE and Water Quality Concerns

• Has high affinity for water• Makes water taste bad (20-40 PPM)• Linked to cancer in rats• Shown to cause illness in humans (allergic

reactions, others) in levels as low as 2 PPB

Oregon and MTBE• MTBE found in almost all Oregon

gasoline either to increase octane or contaminated in transport

• Detectable levels in over 50% of all petroleum clean up sites, but in all cases another pollutant is the cause for cleanup

• Level must fall below 20 PPB for complete cleanup

Oregon and MTBE• Tested 45 public water systems (100

sources) and only one with a detectable level (7 PPM)

• Two other water sources near cleanup sites found with MTBE

• Testing for MTBE being expanded for the other 300 Oregon systems

• In Oregon 800-844-8467 or 800 452 4011

Concerns Experienced with MTBE in Missoula,

West Yellowstone• People feeling ill, headaches,

irritated eyes• Visibility and odor• Measured in snowpack, snow

melt

Missoula’s solution was to use ethanol

• Using 8 % ethanol blend (2.7 % oxygen) Missoula reduced carbon monoxide by 24.3% on average compared to 1990 data.

Air Quality and E-10• Reduces emissions includeing fine

particulate matter (PM 2.5), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and air toxics especially in SUVs, RVs, light duty vehicles, and 2-stroke engines

Air Quality Concerns• Snowmobile emissions in congested traffic

areas caused air quality concerns

• President’s Day Weekend 1999 yielded 8.9 PPM CO 8-hr average at West Entrance YNP (over 900 snowmobiles)

• In 2000, 3.5 PPM CO was highest 8-hour average for similar time and number of vehicles (ethanol blend, express lanes)

Air Quality and E-10• Approved for summer use in Chicago

and Milwaukee to reduce CO and haze with little or no impact to ozone

E-10 helps mental health

• Increases power and octane;

• Is warranted by manufacturers; and

• Is similar in cost to conventional fuel.

E-10 used voluntarily

• No carburetor freezing

• Significantly reduced maintenance and cold weather additives

• Detergent properties reduce buildup that promotes cleaner combustion

Ethanol Blend Fuels in the Yellowstone Region

• Every million gallons of 10 percent ethanol blend burned reduces potential emissions of carbon monoxide by 61 tons

SummaryEthanol blend fuel:

• Reduces air emissions without adversely impacting water quality

• Summer use reduces emissions, but weather and location may impact effectiveness

• Helps reduce regional haze

Acknowledgements

• US DOE Regional Bioenergy Program

• EPA

• Montana Department of Environmental Quality